But Kiper shifted gears for his second mock, predicting New England to draft Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With those hips, he can expertly manipulate short ranges, as well as use abrupt lateral movements to disrupt tackling angles. Jaxon Smith-njigba Stats, News, Fantasy Football Rankings Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wide Receiver Number # AGE 21 weight 198 lbs. They were saying the Giants needed OL, edge and CB first. Smith-Njigba struggles with injury after first catch (0:19) Jaxon Smith-Njigba takes a big hit on his first catch and doesn't come back in the game until late in the second quarter. It's officially NFL draft season, so it's time to get to know the best players at every positions in the 2023 class. Stroud has a message for those who question whether Fields can excel as a passer and not just a runner. Resting on the podium overlooking a gaggle of reporters, Jaxon Smith-Njigba looked a composed figure. Let's take a closer look at JSN's draft profile, and whether the Bears should be interested in his services. He also has enough speed to extend RAC opportunities and reach the corner on drags and digs. On the topic of Ohio State, Smith-Njigba expressed regret that he wasn't able to play more. He earned rave reviews from a number of media outlets. He's not going to blow by any defensive backs with his speed, and he's not going to participate in 40-yard dash drills at the combine, so he won't be able to change the narrative that he's a tad slower than some other standouts at WR in this class. Jaxon Smith-Njigba now has the Ohio State record for most receiving yards in a game.
Coming into this season, Ohio State only had four 200-yard receiving games ever. After that performance, he was touted as one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. [8][9], Smith-Njigba played in seven games as a freshman and led Ohio State's freshmen with 10 receptions for 49 yards and one touchdown.[10]. . I doubt it matters what anyone thinks of Smith-Njigba because he likely won't be available at 25. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to miss Peach Bowl, enter 2023 NFL Draft Smith-Njigba had five receptions for 43 yards this season. Still, he had earned more . - Other than his standout sophomore season, Smith-Njigba hasn't done much. STATISTICS. Smith-Njigba is undergoing medical testing at the combine, with coaches and front-office executives monitoring the results on the hamstring injury that limited him in 2022. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Its important not to speak in absolutes, but another strong season would almost assuredly grant Smith-Njigba first-round capital. If the picks line up, adding Smith-Njigba would be an easy decision for Chicago. GET BEARS NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DAILY WITH OUR NEWSLETTER. Seeing him against press coverage in 2021 will be key, but he projects well there. When Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a likely first round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, was asked what stood out about his formal interview with the Green and Gold, he said the team's desire to add playmaking to their passing game. He's great at getting open on broken plays, as he can often be found scrambling around nearly as much as his quarterback while trying to get open. Smith-Njigba caught 15 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns. ", Smith-Njigba feels 100% after injury-marred '22, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Top QB prospect Levis eager to unleash 'cannon', QB Bennett addresses off-field issues at combine, Campbell: Lamar wants deal done with Ravens, Alabama QB Young undeterred by size questions, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader, Browns' offense: Grading positions ahead of free agency, 2023 draft, Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency. If production was the only factor, then hed have that title locked down. Saturday's game was Ohio State's 16th appearance in the Rose Bowl, entering with an 8-7 record in Pasadena. You can check them all out in our, How to Prepare for Your Dynasty Rookie Draft, Dynasty Rookie Draft Pick Trade Strategy & Advice, Fantasy Football Draft Values to Target: Tight Ends (2023), Dynasty Trade Advice: Trade Jamaal Williams (2023 Fantasy Football), Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers: Jake Ferguson (2023), 2023 NFL Free Agent Predictions: Aaron Rodgers & Jimmy Garoppolo (Fantasy Football), 2023 NFL Free Agent Running Backs: Devin Singletary (Fantasy Football), Fantasy Football Draft Quarterback Breakouts (2023), No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form, Limited to three games played in 2022 due to a hamstring injury. The Ohio State WR also has great stop-and-start ability and can break at impressive angles with his loose hips. 6 Ohio State, then-sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had the best receiving performance ever in a bowl game: 347 receiving yards (a single-game bowl record) and three receiving touchdowns on . Smith-Njigba played minimally with Bears quarterback Justin Fields at Ohio State in 2020, catching 10 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown that year, but it was his sophomore campaign in 2021 that put him on the map nationally. UTAH HITS THE END ZONE FIRST IN THE . Other than his standout sophomore season, Smith-Njigba hasn't done much. Canaan Elijah Smith-Njigba (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). However, he needs more press experience on the boundary to prove it. [2] As a senior, he caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 touchdowns and was named the recipient of both the Landry Award and the Texas Gatorade Football Player of the Year award. Heres a look at what Smith-Njigba has to offer and where he stands in a crowded 2023 NFL Draft wide receiver class. Smith-Njigba flashes the capacity for great explosion, especially when hes on the attack either surging into space or pursuing blockers. In 44 high school games, Smith-Njigba racked up 5,346 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. I think the best way to describe Jaxon Smith-Njigba is that hes a quarterbacks Phone-a-Friend pic.twitter.com/ZykxbLB2bG. Draft analyst Todd McShay reported in December that Smith-Njigba was healthy enough to play in the College Football Playoffs, but chose not to. 10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft believes Smith-Njigba brings a skill set greater than that of himself or Chris Olave, another Ohio State alum who went in the first round of last year's draft. It was the most receiving yards by anyone in bowl history. Garrett Wilson still maintains that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a better receiver than him or Chris Olave. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. Smith-Njigba isnt necessarily a generational WR prospect, and other wideouts in the 2023 NFL Draft may have better athletic profiles. / 2023 2024 BYE WEEK. With lacking elite explosiveness and burst, Smith-Njigba isnt going to offer a consistent dynamic element downfield. Yes, Smith-Njigba was a slot receiver in college, but that doesnt mean he doesnt have the intangibles to get loose on the boundary. The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer, in his latest mock draft,has Smith-Njigba going to the Chargers with the No. The Ohio State WR has great zone and blind-spot awareness, and he can exploit spaces quickly. He also has the most receiving yards in Rose Bowl game history. Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba is seen as one of the top wide receiver prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. [3][4] Smith-Njigba played in the 2019 All-American Bowl and was named a high school All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Index Of This Post [ show] Can he make the most of it and command first-round capital like they did? For his size, Smith-Njigba is surprisingly physical. Three trades in a chaotic top five, Kiper's Round 1 NFL mock draft: Where four quarterbacks land in the top 10 picks, OSU's Smith-Njigba headed to draft, out for CFP, Ohio State gets RB Williams back vs. Michigan, Buckeyes' Smith-Njigba (hamstring) out again, Buckeyes' Smith-Njigba may be on snap count. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. And as a true sophomore in 2021, Smith-Njigba led a talented Buckeyes receiving corps in both receptions and receiving yards with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine scores. This is me Follow. Hes able to secure catches with defenders in his wheelhouse, and hes comfortable with very little space. 4 Zay Flowers - Boston College. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Height 6-1 Weight 200 College Ohio State Position WR Class Junior Home town Rockwall, TX 88.3/100 Player Rating 4 PositionRank (WR) FortyYD Time Receptions 5 Rec YDs 43 Rec TDs Rec AVG PLAYER OVERVIEW STATS WORKOUT COMBINE PLAYER NEWS Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report Draft Profile: Bio Smith-Njigba's central role in the offense was expected to be a major part of OSU's identity as a national championship contender. His height, weight, and length are all likely close to the median for wide receivers. . He also holds Ohio State records for most catches in a single game with 15 (twice) and most receiving yards in a single season with 1,606 during the 2021 season. Jaxon Smith-Njigba plays wide receiver for Ohio State in college football. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba In the 2022 Rose Bowl that was played at the end of the 2021 college football season between No. 2023 NFL Draft Highlights: Jaxon. Smith-Njigba has 326 yards receiving, which is the most in any bowl game in college football history. Pro Football Network, LLC. Join our linker program. Those are two of the most important jobs for a wide receiver. But at the very least, he passes the desired threshold for an NFL starter. The Green Bay Packers, like the rest of the NFL, are at the combine trying to figure out who they want to draft in April. Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than pure speed. Entering 2022, Smith-Njigba had been projected as one of the top wide receivers in the country. Also called him, "the most natural athlete Ive ever seen. The hamstring injury occurred early in Ohio State's season opener against Notre Dame, and Smith-Njigba went on to play in parts of two more games, finishing the season with five receptions for 43 yards while running a total of 42 receiving routes. 11 overall to New Orleans), Broke 20-year-old Big Ten receiving yards record (1,545 yards in 2001 by Lee Evan, Wisconsin) with his 1,606 receiving yards in 2021, 95 receptions rank fifth-most in Big Ten history, Set Rose Bowl records with 347 receiving yards and 15 receptions with three touchdowns and was named offensive most valuable player, 2021: Rose Bowl game MVP; Third-team All-American (Associated Press), Named the Texas 6A State Player of the Year - No. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? Smith-Njigba won't take part in the 40-yard dash in this year's NFL Combine, but he still views himself among the fastest, strongest and most capable of this year's crop, a belief he reaffirmed Friday morning in Indianapolis. (31%*), 30 2/8 He can manipulate defensive backs and tempo routes to maximize space. JSN's Rose Bowl performance against Utah, albeit with the Utes drastically undermanned in the secondary and Olave and Wilson sitting out, was a . He also set an Ohio State and FBS. He finished with six catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns. The Ohio State wideout had seen only a few downs of action in 2022. Rising didn't begin the 2021 campaign as Utah's starting quarterback but earned the position after taking over for Charlie Brewer in an overtime loss to San Diego State on Sept. 18 and led the Utes to a Pac-12 championship. Smith-Njigba grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and attended Rockwall High School. Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba plays against Michigan State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Has enough straight-line speed and takes advantage of open seams when his quarterback is on target. Smith-Njigba can manipulate and change his route path in tight spaces while keeping his speed. The Buckeyes entered with a chip on their shoulder after missing out on the College Football Playoff for the first time in three years. Smith-Njigba is a possession slot receiver who lacks the shake to separate underneath and the speed to run past defenses. 2022; 2021; 2020; Career; 2021 Game Logs * indicates bowl game; 2021 Game Logs Table; Receiving Punt Ret; Rk Date School Opponent Rec Yds Avg TD Ret Yds Avg TD; 1: 2021-09 . . Buckeyes' Smith-Njigba, Williams back vs. Iowa, Ohio State rules out Smith-Njigba, Williams. Smith-Njigba is already a proficient separator, but he doesnt rely on separation to win. Menu Shop Menu Standings Menu Stats Menu Super Bowl Menu Teams Menu Tickets Menu More . And as a true sophomore in 2021, Smith-Njigba led a talented Buckeyes receiving corps in both receptions and receiving yards with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine scores. He missed all but three games of the 2022 season because of a hamstring injury. That may give some teams understandable pause. He can create in minimal space with the best of them.
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